02/13/2017

"The 2 figures marching at trail (one missing hand and rifle) are from set 258 {British} Infantry in Steel Helmets and Gas Masks. Issued 1928-40. The tan uniform and grey helmet point to an early version. The gas-masked French infantryman I can't place, but he's not a Britains issue."

02/12/2017

"This rather terrifying figure is a stretcher bearer from set 1759 Air Raid Precautions Stretcher Squad. It was issued pre WWII.

"Proprietor" and "Copyright" are always on the underside of the base of a Britains figure. Sometimes Deposee is seen; this means the mould was made to be used in the brief period Britains had a Paris Office."

02/10/2017

The white plume on the left of the drummer boy's bearskin means he's a Grenadier Guard. There was a drummer in Britains set 34, Grenadier Guards standing firing. Drummers wore half-boots or gaiters until 1934, then got the full trousers this lad has. The set was discontinued in 1941.The euphonium player's plume, if any, can't be seen. Painting a moustache was stopped by the late 1930s. Maybe a Scots Guard from set 1607, first issued 1938. And if both these guys are from the mid to late 1930s, they're from the same period as many other figures in this collection. (I'd use a soft toothbrush to remove that yellow shmoo from the drummer boy.)